Course Summary
Our MA in Irish Traditional Music provides a holistic practical and theoretical immersion in Irish Traditional Music practice and scholarship.
College Link
Career Sectors
This course prepares you for working in the Career Sectors below. Follow the links to get a fuller understanding of the sectors you are preparing for.
Entry Requirements
Consideration under Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) may also be given to applicants who do not meet the above entry requirements but who have relevant professional experience, such as musicians of high standing or those with a relevant and demonstrable track record in the traditional arts sector.
Application Details
Closing Date
Rolling deadline. Open until all places have been filled. Early application is advised.
Start Date: September 2024
Fees
How To Apply
1. Check Dates: Check the opening and closing dates for the application process in the fact file boxes at the top of the page.
2. Gather Documents: Scanned copies of supporting documents have to be uploaded to the UCC online application portal and include:
Original qualification documents listed on your application including transcripts of results from institutions other than UCC.
Any supplementary items requested for your course if required.
3. Apply Online: Apply online via the UCC online application portal. Note the majority of our courses have a non-refundable €50 application fee.
Any questions? Use our web enquiry form to contact us.
Additional Requirements (All Applicants)
All eligible applicants will be interviewed and when applying, required to submit a portfolio of creative works, recordings, and/or research. Interviews may be conducted in-person or online and each candidate will be interviewed by two members of the programme team. At the interview stage, applicants will discuss their previous artistic and academic experience and interests, as well as outline their motivations and ambitions for undertaking an MA in Irish Traditional Music.
Portfolio
The portfolio should consist of three examples of your work, and it should be uploaded to the web (using services such as DropBox or similar). You should provide a URL address in the online supplementary portfolio question. Please ensure that the link will not expire before the application process is complete. In addition to providing a URL to the online portfolio, applicants will be required to write a very short commentary about each example of work.
Submissions that cannot be uploaded to the web can be posted directly to the Programme Director: Dr Jack Talty, Music Department, School of Music and Theatre, UCC, Cork, Republic of Ireland. Mark the envelope with your PAC application number and indicate in your supplementary answer that you will be posting hardcopy materials. Please note that these materials cannot be returned to you.
Additional Information
You will be required to provide additional information as part of the online application process for this programme. This will include the following:
You may enter the details of professional or voluntary positions held. We strongly encourage you to complete this section with all relevant work experiences that will support your application.
In addition to your previously declared qualifications, please outline any additional academic courses, self-learning, and professional training relevant to this programme.
Please describe your motivation and readiness for this programme.
Please detail your research interest(s).
Please enter the names and email addresses of two referees.
The Student
Career Interests
This course is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests. If these interests do not describe you, this course may prepare you for work you may not find satisfying.
Creative
Creative people are drawn to careers and activities that enable them to take responsibility for the design, layout or sensory impact of something (visual, auditory etc). They may be atrracted to the traditional artistic pursuits such as painting, sculpture, singing, or music. Or they may show more interest in design activities, such as architecture, animation, or craft areas, such as pottery and ceramics.
Creative people use their personal understanding of people and the world they live in to guide their work. Creative people like to work in unstructured workplaces, enjoy taking risks and prefer a minimum of routine.
Investigative
The Investigative person will usually find a particular area of science to be of interest. They are inclined toward intellectual and analytical activities and enjoy observation and theory. They may prefer thought to action, and enjoy the challenge of solving problems with sophiscticated technology. These types prefer mentally stimulating environments and often pay close attention to developments in their chosen field.
Career Progression
Postgraduate students join a thriving research culture in our Department, in the diverse artistic and cultural hub that is Cork city. Focusing on a combination of academic, creative practice, and transferrable professional skills allows students to develop unique and distinctive profiles that can contribute meaningfully to multiple national and international communities of practice engaged in Irish Traditional Music.
Our MA in Irish Traditional Music graduates pursue a wide range of careers in the creative arts, academia, culture industries, and media. Many have applied successfully for PhDs in Ireland or overseas. Our graduates include professional performers, composers, academics, educators, arts managers, and music industry professionals.